WS j 
34, 68/4: 
Gul! 72. » . 

Bulletin No, 72 queen April 5, 1923. 


CO:RiONWEaALTH OF PENNSYLIVANTA 


oe ee ee 


DEPAR?MEN? OF INTERNAL AFPPATIRS 
James F, Woodward, Secretary 








eee 


BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
George H. Ashley, State Geologist 


| 








FLAGSTONE INDUSTRY IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA 
By 
R. W. Stone 


Introcuction. 


Quarrying flagstone for sidewalks once was a flourishing 
industry in northeastern Pennsylvania but portland cement has 
virtually cornered the market in sicewalk material. Where once the 
flagstone quarries employed nearly 1000 men there are now less than 
50 quarrymen and most of these are coins a very small ane cesultory 
business. 


In the summer of 1922 the writer mace a rapid reconnaisance 
throush northern Pennsylvania and visitec several of the quarries 
that are still beins worked, An idea that the flagstone industry has 
some chance of recoverins part of its lost business promnts this 
paper. 


Definition, 


FPlarstone is variously described as "a rock that splits readily 
ints slabs suitable for flarsing;" "a sancstone naturally separating 
into layers of suitable thiclmess for flarrsing; usually the layers 
are parallel to the bedcing or stratification of the rock; but there 
are cases in which the lamination of the material available for 
flageing is the result of cleavage or jointine;" "a flat rock used 
in paving, or any rock which will split ints such stones." 


Plagstone produced in southeastern New York anc northeastern 
Pennsvivania is also imown as bluestone. Bluestone is the commercial 
name tor a dark bluish-eray felcspathic sandstone or arkose. ‘The 


color is due to the presence sf fine black and darz-freen minerals, 


Chiefly hornblende and chlorite. The touvhness of the rock, due to 


























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Slicht metamorphism, and the ease with which it may be split into 
thin slabs especially adapt it for use as flagstone. 


Uses. 


Bluestone is used as reneral building stone, for-flagging-and 
curbing, and as trimming for buildings, such as sills, lintels, steps, 
ana base courses. Concrete is used extensively as a substitute for 
stone for these purposes. The use of erushed bluestone for railroad 
ballast is increasing. 


This paper deals only with the use of bluestone as flageing and 
curbing, and kinédreé uses, such as burial vaults, cistern, cess pool, 
and well covers. By far the largest use of flagging is for sidewalks. 
Flagstones vary greatly in size; the commonest size is about four 
feet square and two inches thick. ‘he largest stone seen by the 
Writer last summer is at 514 Church Street, Honesdale, and measures 
Be’ 3o" by 7711" by 4". Several flagstones 10° by 15* by 4" have been 
quarried ih Pike County for use in New York City, and one flag 25' by 
15’ by 8" was quarried across Delaware xiver from Shohola. 


Age and location. 

The flagstones of northeastern Pennsylvania are of Devonian ave. 
The Devonian rocks for the most part lie nearly horizontal anc the 
main exposures are alone the bluffs of the main streams. The flagr- 
stone quarries are at various horizons in the lower part of the 
Catszill and upper part of the Chemung formations. These horizons 
are exposed in a belt from Lehifh River northeast across Carbon, 
Monroe, and Pike counties to the Delaware near Willrift and up the 
Delaware along the boundary of Pike and Wayne counties. The same 
horizons are exposed also alone the Susnuehanna near Lanesboro close 
to the New Yor: boundary, and on the same river in Wyomine County 
above ‘ieshoppen. 


i i i i ee ee 


Some of the Devonian sandstones where lonp exposet to rain and 
frost split easily along bedding planes into slabs from 2 to 8 inches 
thick and in lengths ranging from 2 to 20 feet, according to the space 
between natural joints. This feature was early recognized by the 
settlers and the stone was cuarried for buildings, walks, and fences. 


The date when flagstones were first raised in Pennsylvania 
probably could not be determined but doubtless flag walks were 1l2id in 
some of the settlements nt least 75 and perhnros 100 years rgo.e For 
many yeors quarrying was done only by farmers in their spare time, but 
eventurily it become a regular industry for certain individuals, At 
the penk of development about £00 different cunrrieS were in operntion, 
50 of them in Wayne, 40 in Susquehannn, 2nd 35 in Pike counties. 
Wyoming and Lycoming counties had about 25 quarries each, 


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As the principal use for flagstone is for sidewnlks, the demand 
increased 2s the population of the northesstern counties grew. The 
production of curbing was a somewhat later develooment and utilized 
Some of the thicker flags. The climax of the PLaZsine ane. curbing 
industry was in 1906 when the value of the outnut exceeded 3435,000. 
Prom that year production decreasec almost vegulerly to about 
we", 000 in 1918, 


The decline of the industry is ascribed by the quarrymen to the 
increasing use of portland cement for moking concrete walks. The 
2brupt decline from 1916 to 1918 may be xssigned in part to high 
freight rates and to high wages, 


The value of the annual output is shown in the following table 


Which has been compiled from Mineral Resources of the United States, 
published by the United States Geological Survey. 


Value of flagrine and curbing produced in Pennsylvanis 


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Year flagging Curbing Total Value 
ala : . 
1902 92 5469 69.556 Loe s0ED 
1903 To LOL L265 ‘593 300 ; 294 
1904 Bio ool 149 491 365 ;742 
1905 216 435 157, 391 a1 On 826 
1906 265 481 LO 4.53 , 584 
1907 ae a as eel 128 ;740 282 2603 
1908 217-690 big te Soo. Boe 
1909 Vit dad cada) 83° 538 279-063 
e220 LO? ; 846 96 b5aq 206 ; ; 404 
a gt A 87-769 78; 106 165. 75 
1912 Co Res 116 ;647 Slaw 870 
eS 95,198 94,625 Bs VA “823 
1914 48 : 5239 prog 115-869 
215 57; 455 54:923 12.8 57.8 
LOLG6 41.789 485,415 90; 144 
Soy Bo. oul 26 ;408 Baie 
1918 LY S097 9 ;894 BO COS. 
1919 38.912 Laas eS , 050 
1920 20,145 31,199 51, 344 
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A total value of $4,000;000 for a local mineral product in 20 
years, or an average of §200,000 ner year, has been a mitericl 
financial benefit to this corner of the State, 


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Notes on Quarries Visited. 


During the summer of 1922 the writer in a reconnaissa2nce of the 
eastern half of the State stopoec for a few minutes at such quarries 
as came to his notice, Some of the larger quarries on Delnawere River 
above Port Jervis are difficult of access from the Pennsylvania side 
and were not seen. Others thet hive long been producers rre now idle 
and some are filled with water. Most of the quarr ne hip high in the 
hills. This is because the flat-lying and weather-resisting sand- 
Stone forms the upland, 


Pike County. 


eet om 


above “De laws are River are the Decker cuarries which nave been operated 
by Squire J. V. Hood since 1898. The bluestone strikes north, pitches 
Slightly west, and is so massive a few feet back from the outcrop that 
Stone is raised only where sufficiently weathered to part readily 
along the bedding planes. Consequently there are small openings along 
the outcrop instead of one large cuarry. <A single bed about 5 feet 
thick is the principal source of flagstone. Mr. Hood works singie 


Dinemans Ferry. Four miles west of Dingemons Ferry and 900 feet 


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handed or with one assistant, and only intermittently as orders are 


received. Or late years the. output has been mainly for burial vaults, 
The largest flag ever taken out here w2s 10 feet square. All work is 
by haned and only local demand is sunplied, for lack of a railroad. 


tack cAWOXEN « Messrs. Smith & Beisel are working 2 quarry-.t the 
point of the ridge between Delaware River and Lackawaxen Creek, about 
160 feet eave the railroad at Lackawaxen, ‘he overburden is about 5 
geet, the bedcineg is horizontal, ond the stone parts in thin beds, 
Three men ave employed and hand newer only is used, ‘the product is 
curbing and flagging for northern New Jersey, New York City, and Long 
Island, The stone is bluish-gray and not so dark as . sindstone 
formerly quarried on the bank of > run } mile southwest of the 
Lackcwaxen Station. 


Plagstones now at the Delaware hotel, Lackawaxen, mexzsuring 
5 x le and 7 x 11 feet are from the neardy Kilgore quarry. 


Abutments of the Delaware & Hudson canal aqueduct at Leckawaxen 
were built of loc2l building stone. ‘The canal was completed in 1828 
and abandoned in 1899. Chiseled watec gauze marxs on these stones 
are plainly visible 90 years later, which is good evidence of 
urability. 


Pond Eddy, Maxwell & Harding were reported to he employing 12 
to 20 men ang 1a getiing out 2 considerable quantity of stone at Pond 
Eddy, This place was difficult of access from the writer's route and 
was not visited, Pond Edéy has beén one of the large producers of 
flagzing and has found its principsl market in New York, Brooklyn, 
and Newsrk, 


Kimbles. A. H. Woodward & Son, of Newark, N. J. operate a 


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quirry 23 miles erst of Ximbles nertr the top of 2 ridge and 450 feet 
higher than the railrozd. The quarry face is about 350 feet long and 
25-30 feet high. Horizontal bec@ine and practically no cover 
facilitate quarrying. Most of the output at present is curbing for 
New York City. Paving flags also are produced, Jackhammer drills 
oper rated. by compressed air ere used, A gas engine drives the conm- 
pressor but the Ccerricks are operated by horse whims. ‘The quarry 
employs 7 men. 


The Standard Binestone quarry on top of the opposite hill was 
idle. 


Wayne County. _ 


Aldenville, John H. Bowen quarries flagstone on his farm l 
Mile South of Aldenville. The stone lies flat, raises in thin lifts, 
is gray in color, and is marketed in Honesdale, Mr, Bowen works 
alone « 


Susaquehanns County. 


Stevens Point, Several bluestone cuarries have been opened 
on the ridges near Stevens Point. Richird Bailey is quarrying 2bout 
26 miles north of Stevens Point, mda Pronk Baker is opernting near 
Baker. Both of those Operators are producing a small quantity of 
fiogs ond curbs for shipment by rail. 


Lanesboro. A greenish-gray sendstone quarried in a hill nenrby 
was used for building the high stone arch vinduct of the Erie Reil- 
road across Starrucca valley at Lanesboro, The rock is fairly hard 
and its curability is evident from the present condition of the 
bradge., Messrs. Walters end Call cre operating aon old quarry up 2 
hollow at the east end of town. Five men are employed getting out 

urbing and flagging, which is shipned to Binghampton, Seranton, and 
Philadeiphi:. The stone lies almost perfectly flet, and the bed 
Meeme Worked raises in heavy lifts, 6 to 8 inches thick. The color 
is light bluish-gray, 


south Montrose, Wynans Brothers of South Montrose are working 
& quorry on the 3. F. Jones farm. The bedé@ing is flat a 25 feet of 
Worthless stone must be memed.to get at a bed of stone 143 feet thick 
which is suitable sor flagging:ana curbing, Drilling is done by 
heavy-duty steam tripod drills, the quarry is kept dry by a steam- 
Operated pump, and the derrick is operated by 2 gasolene hoist, The 
procuct goes mostly to Seranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittston, 


Wyoming County. 


Meshoppen,. 5o far as the writer observed, the flagstone indus- 
try is more nctive in the northwest corner of Wyoming County than 
elsewhere. At Meshcppen the stone cutting plant of B. Ridgway & Son, 
Philadeiphi2, is handling the output of several quarries, Mr. John 
Gaul, superintendent oi the plant, s.vs that a shortoge of stone 
cutters greatly curtails the out tpute Stone from the quarries near 


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Meshoppen is greenish gray, gray, blhish, and reddish. Ridgway and 
son have furnished flagging for the floors in the newer ond larger 
buildings of various eastern colleges, and the difference in color 

of the flags is utilized to make geometrical designs and &nhance the 
beauty of these floors, Stones are cut to predetermined irregular 
Shapes to break up the monotony of rectangular flags. There has long 
been a demand for sawed and planed surfices but recently the rough 
natural surfice is favored more and more, 


Laceyville. Hive quarries on a ridge west of Tuscorora Creek 
and north of Laceyville were being operated in 1922, Champloin Bros., 
Johnson Clapper, Cash Co., Holden & Champlain, cand John Woodrurt were 
reported to be the operntors. The Cole quarry 1 3/4 miles west of 
Locéyville was employing five men raising flagstone from 4 thin 
hedded flat-lying stratum, Some of the other quarries in the 
neighborhood were one or two men operations. 


Horace Ruger is employing severnl men in quarries nexr Standing 
Rock and Skinners Eddy and shipping flags and curds by rail. 


At Black Walnut is an abandoned bluestone quarry with a face 
about 900 feet long and 40 feet high. This is the largest quarry the 
writer saw in northeast Pennsylvania. 


Future development. 


fo the writer it seems warronted to assume that the production 
of flagstone in northeastern Pennsylvania can be developed into a 
very considerable industry in comparison with its present condition. 
twenty years 2g0, hundreds of men were engaged in quarrying. The 
Stone remains in the hills but the demand now is light and few men 
tind employment at the quarries. The development of the industry 
may require or be advanced by the organization and cooperation of the 
producers, and by an advertising campaign conducted and financed by 
the organization. Where flagstone can compete with concrete in 
price, the more attractive quality of the flagstone should give it 
preference, Furthermore, when cement pavements become "heaved," they 
are cifficult to level, Flagstones are easily leveled, and single 
stones, if broken, can be matched in color and replaced without 
injury to the rest of the paving. 


Aesthetic rather than practical consideration may build up the 
flagstone industry. There are many people who cxsre more for the 
beautiful than for cost; who want their walks pretty rather than 
prim. This desire should be fostered by the qunrryinen. Some college 
builcings recentiy completed have been floored with flegstone rather 
than with marble or concrete. Irregularly cut flagstones of different 
colors laid in patterns make a floor that both wears well and pleases 
the eye, The stone yard at Meshnoppen:has furnished such flagstone 
foe for college buildings at Brown, Cornell, Princeton, and Ann 

Poor, 


tllustrations in current monthly journals, like Country Life and 
Fouse and Garden, show flagstones used for walks and pavement of 


os? Ghee 













































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terr2ces or uncovered porches in private srounds. The stones are cut 
in irreguler shipes so as to give . less formal effcct thon rectanguls 
Slabs, anc .re purposely lcid detachcd so thit grass may grow between 
them. The demand for such purposes may never be large but should be 
worth catering to. 


The old-fashioned flag walk may again be in demand in the region 
Contiguous to the quarries. The writer has recently seen broken 
concrete paving torn up to be replaced with flagstone, and believes 
that many town and city properties now building would use flagstones 
in preference to concrete for sidewalks if they could be purchased as 
Casily and at nearly the same cost. 


The market for flagstone will always be limited geographically 
tO a circle of small radius centering at the ocuarries, for flagstones 
are expensive to ship and difficult to handle in comparison with sand 
and gravel and sacks of cement. However, if the market within 
reasonable shipping distance is cultivated by attractive advertising, 
the demand for flagstone should be much increaseé, 


Producers. 


The following producers reported their output of flagging and 
curbing for 1922 to the United States Geological Survey. 


Name and address County 
J. Van Zant Hood, Dinginans Ferry Pike 
Olivo Sartori, <Ximble "i 
A. H, Woodward & Co,, Pond Eddy q 
J, Hs Bowen, - Prompton Wayne 
Charles Croft, Dal eroxd Susquehanna 
Alford Bluestone Co,., Alford ¥ 
Bailey Bros. Stevens Point N 
Richard Bailey 0 M : 
A. G. Spears i" i ” 
BB. T. Winters Lanesboro i 
Horace Ruger, Laceyville Wyoming 
B, Ridgway & Sons Me shoppen Wyoming 













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